MLBits: Dodgers 10-Game Win Streak, Tebow’s Promotion, Stanton in HR Derby, More

Given how much ground we’ve already covered today (Kyle Hendricks update, Addison Russell update, Jeimer Candelario probably cominga loaded set of Bullets, and much more to come), this feels like the beginning  of a really busy week.

So let’s jump right into the news from around the league, because there’s plenty to cover there, too.

  • At 22-years old, Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna recently became the youngest player in MLB history to reach 75 career saves. So far this season, he has a 2.40 ERA with an even better 1.64 FIP. However, he just revealed to the public that he’s been dealing with anxiety issues off the field. “I wish I knew how to get out of here and how to get out of this,” Osuna said via NBC Sports. “We’re working on it. We’re trying to find ways to see what can make me feel better. But to be honest I just don’t know.” If you’re unaware, anxiety is more than just that emotion you feel when the bases are loaded in the ninth. It’s a sometimes-debilitating mental disorder (or rather an oversimplification of a group of different types of anxiety disorders) that can be genetic in nature. Hopefully, Osuna is able to deal with his successfully and starts feeling right again soon. It’s a reminder that players are often dealing with things that we can’t see or observe, even when they’re outwardly having success.
  • Despite losing by 5 runs at one point yesterday, the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to win their 10th consecutive game. They now lead a very tough NL West by 2.5 games over the Diamondbacks. Naturally, Cody Bellinger hit two more home runs, bringing his total to an NL leading 24 for the season. They are a damn good team this season.
  • Baseball’s “big” news from over the weekend: the New York Mets have promoted Tim Tebow from Class-A Columbia to High-A St. Lucie. Tebow’s batting just .220/.311/.336 overall, but the Mets cited what they saw from him over the last few weeks (plus his age) as the driving factors for promotion. For what it’s worth (not much, I’d guess) he’s hitting a slightly better .224/.339/.347 over the last 16 games, but, I mean, shrug. You know what this is about.
  • But hey, there is this (obviously, it means Tebow is headed for greatness):
  • Giancarlo Stanton will be defending his 2016 Home Run Derby title this year in Miami. With Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger likely involved, too, this year’s derby figures to be a great one. (Anthony Rizzo is a “maybe,” for what it’s worth.)
  • Ben Lindbergh has a long, but thoughtful discussion at the Ringer on whether the increase in home runs and strikeouts (plus pace-of-play issues) are really killing baseball like many have suggested. According to him, not so much.
  • With an 8-3 win over the Rays on Saturday, the Baltimore Orioles pitching staff just snapped a wait-a-minute-that-can’t-possibly-be-right streak of 20 consecutive games allowing five or more runs to their opponents (record-tying). But, if you’re a fan of streaks, don’t worry, they allowed another 5 runs on Sunday. Perhaps they’ll hop right back on the horse.
  • He might be a great young hitter, but this is pretty hilarious:
  • Seriously, though, Sanchez is slashing .298/.382/.560 this season with 13 homers and just a 22.5 K%. That’s so freakin’ good (especially considering that he’s not just a catcher, he’s a positive value defensive catcher).
  • In Sunday’s finale against the Cubs, the legendary Ichiro Suzuki set a record as the oldest starting center fielder in modern baseball history. He was close to setting the record back on May 6, but he was 15 days shy of Rickey Henderson (the previous record holder back in 2002). Ichiro can add this one to his list of accomplishments.
  • But probably rather forget this:
  • Speaking of Baseball is Fun, did you catch the very funny and obviously joking (but very real) obituary which blamed the Nationals’ shaky bullpen for the death of a Nationals fan?
  • And finally: Meanwhile in Japan …
  • written by

    Michael Cerami began covering the Chicago Cubs for Bleacher Nation as a part-time contributor in 2015. One year later, he joined Bleacher Nation full-time, covering the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. Today, Michael runs Bleacher Nation, contributing as a writer (Cubs, MLB) and an editor for all sections of the site, including the Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks, as well as MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL. In 2019, Michael was the co-host of NBC Sports Chicago's Cubs Post-Game Show Outside the Ivy. You can find him on Twitter/X @Michael_Cerami

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